Seeking Eternity

What was and What might be

"I think the only reason your parents keep that picture is because the artist is more well known now.   "  Otabek's great grandmother observed regarding the painting of her in her youth,  a captivating beauty with long red hair and bright hazel eyes in a green dress.  

One of many hints at her past that she rarely spoke about.

His arrival back home, the house he'd grown up in far from the noise of the city, closer to the lake, had been anticlimactic.   Nothing seemed to have changed.   His father was still working too hard, his mother still asked why he doesn't at least text her more often and his great grandmother still greeted him with a smile and a hug.  Now, though, he had to bend and receive said hug since she spent most of her time in a wheelchair.  The male nurse they hired to help patiently enduring her complaints.   

By tomorrow, the day of her 90th birthday,  the house would be full of family.  Some of them he rarely saw, some he didn't want to.   For now it was quiet enough that he could convince his mother and the nurse to allow him to watch over her, vowing he would tell them the moment there was a problem.   His grandmother insisted they worried far too much.  A willing participant in his plans, it had been her idea for them to use her room to talk.   Inside there was a hospital bed, a comfortable looking recliner, a plainer chair and a table.  

Scattered around were pictures in frames, cards and a vase of flowers whose scent drifted around the room.     

"Never tell your mother, but I hate that nurse they have coming here to look after me."  she told him quietly once he wheeled her inside.  "But it is better than being sent away."

"You don't really hate him Baba."  Otabek told her,helping her out of her wheelchair and into the recliner.  

"You're right,  I hate that I need the help.   " she confessed  "He is actually good looking and I thought since you're here..."

"I asked you to stop matchmaking."   he said, careful not to show too much irritation in his voice.  

She shrugged, "Is it wrong to want someone in my family to find happiness?  "   

"It's fine.   You worry too much."

 " So what  do you want медвежонок?   Maybe there is already someone in your thoughts?"  she asked.

He wondered how she always seemed to know.   The things he hid so carefully from the rest of his family, even from friends became clear to his great grandmother.  Otabek was grateful she kept those secrets as well as her own.   They had an understanding since he was very young.   

"I know you've told me countless times but I wanted to ask about your stories,  the ones from your grandparents about the vampires."   he felt a twinge of guilt, wanting to spend time with her mainly for information's sake.  

There were things he needed to know if he was going to make a final decision.   She was the only one he could talk to about any of this, the only one who might understand or at leas give him much needed advice.  

"My grandfather was the superstitious one, clinging to the old beliefs that crosses, garlic and  such would keep them away.  That they were evil.  My grandmother stopped talking to him about these things, but she told my father and his brothers and sisters.   My father told me.  She knew the truth, you see,  after all she'd met them.  They've been around a very long time, I doubt even they know how it started.  "  she said  "Now you are the only one listening to these stories,  the rest call me an old fool.  Not to my face of course.  There was a time when  family respected their elders." she huffed irritated  " My question to you is why?  Why are you still so interested, aren't you too old for stories?"